noharleyyet
Well-known member
There has been a very good thread discussion the last couple of days about Mule Deer Hunting methods which has prompted some excellent responses. Would much appreciate your expertise on Elk.
Elk Hunting Advice
- Thread starter noharleyyet
- Start date
I'm no help in this avenue, but am all ears...well some would say I have quite a bit of ass as well! BuzzH
Well-known member
A lot of what was said on the mule deer thread applies to elk.
I glass alot for elk or elk sign...I also ease through thick lodgepole and have killed a lot of elk doing that. Elk that receive a lot of pressure stay in the open very little and not very late in the day...right at daylight and right at dark.
In Montana during November hunts, I had my best luck hunting elk during prolonged cold snaps from about +10 to -20. A couple things happened: 1. most hunters didnt like to get out in that cold 2. Elk feed more in the daylight when its that cold.
I killed lots of elk in those type of conditions in Montana. Wyoming seasons are much earlier and I've had better luck hunting them on thick north slopes...just easing through the timber real slow. Elk dont like warm weather and usually the warmer the weather the tougher they are to hunt.
I've also had good luck glassing thicker side hills rather than more open country. I like to walk one side of a steep draw and glass the opposite side when possible. If you spend the time, you can glass elk in some pretty heavily forested sidehills.
I glass alot for elk or elk sign...I also ease through thick lodgepole and have killed a lot of elk doing that. Elk that receive a lot of pressure stay in the open very little and not very late in the day...right at daylight and right at dark.
In Montana during November hunts, I had my best luck hunting elk during prolonged cold snaps from about +10 to -20. A couple things happened: 1. most hunters didnt like to get out in that cold 2. Elk feed more in the daylight when its that cold.
I killed lots of elk in those type of conditions in Montana. Wyoming seasons are much earlier and I've had better luck hunting them on thick north slopes...just easing through the timber real slow. Elk dont like warm weather and usually the warmer the weather the tougher they are to hunt.
I've also had good luck glassing thicker side hills rather than more open country. I like to walk one side of a steep draw and glass the opposite side when possible. If you spend the time, you can glass elk in some pretty heavily forested sidehills.
Calif. Hunter
Active member
I only have 2 6x6 to my credit, but I have hunted a lot of years to get to that point, not living in elk country. I have seen elk by cruising slowly through the thick timber in snow, listening and looking a lot. I also glass the sides of the steep hillsides. I check out water sources in the drier parts of elk country. Foggy mornings seem to be good for me, as the elk stay out a little longer, before heading into the thick stuff.
KC
New member
Elk Hunting Strategies
http://hometown.aol.com/keenkc/ElkStrategies.html
I get an elk every year. Sometimes I get both a cow and a bull. My hunting buddies rarely get an elk and one guy asked me why. I replied that there are no secrets to hunting elk. You already know what you have to do to be successful. But most people won't or can't do what it takes to be successful.
You have to hunt throughout the entire year. You should be engaged in something relating to hunting all the time; reading, studying, gear maintenance, shooting, scouting, etc.
You have to hunt every day of the entire season. You should arrive at camp no later than the day before opening day and don't leave until the day after the last day of the season. You can't expect to be successful if you hunt on just the weekend or if you hunt for just part of the season.
You have hunt all day. The most productive times to hunt are just after dawn and just before sunset. So if you want to hunt during those times you have to do most of your hiking to and from the truck, in the dark. Stay in the field for the entire day. Don't go back to camp for lunch.
You have to hunt the places that others won't or can't. Get away from the roads and hunt in the mean nasty hollows, where it's hard to get into and hard to get out of.
You have to learn to think like an elk. Pretend that you are an elk and you know that hunters are trying to kill you. Then go to the places and do the things that you need to do to avoid getting killed. That's how you find elk.
Hunt where the elk are. 75% of the elk live in 25% of the available suitable habitat. You need to find out where that 25% area is and spend your time there.
KC
http://hometown.aol.com/keenkc/ElkStrategies.html
I get an elk every year. Sometimes I get both a cow and a bull. My hunting buddies rarely get an elk and one guy asked me why. I replied that there are no secrets to hunting elk. You already know what you have to do to be successful. But most people won't or can't do what it takes to be successful.
You have to hunt throughout the entire year. You should be engaged in something relating to hunting all the time; reading, studying, gear maintenance, shooting, scouting, etc.
You have to hunt every day of the entire season. You should arrive at camp no later than the day before opening day and don't leave until the day after the last day of the season. You can't expect to be successful if you hunt on just the weekend or if you hunt for just part of the season.
You have hunt all day. The most productive times to hunt are just after dawn and just before sunset. So if you want to hunt during those times you have to do most of your hiking to and from the truck, in the dark. Stay in the field for the entire day. Don't go back to camp for lunch.
You have to hunt the places that others won't or can't. Get away from the roads and hunt in the mean nasty hollows, where it's hard to get into and hard to get out of.
You have to learn to think like an elk. Pretend that you are an elk and you know that hunters are trying to kill you. Then go to the places and do the things that you need to do to avoid getting killed. That's how you find elk.
Hunt where the elk are. 75% of the elk live in 25% of the available suitable habitat. You need to find out where that 25% area is and spend your time there.
KC
